A Day in Nome!

This morning, I slept in until 8 AM.  That felt wonderful!  Then we had breakfast (cereal, hot cocoa, and toast with butter and wonderful homemade raspberry jelly made by Agnes, Grandma's friend).  I washed, dried, and put away the dishes, we started a load of laundry, and then we headed out at 9:45 to go walk around Nome.  There was a garage sale going on (they are apparently a big thing in Nome), and everything was so CHEAP.  Matthew and I found a koala coin purse, a clip-on koala (you can clip him to curtains or something similar), Iditarod Sled Dog Race 1987 pins, and a snowman mug...all for $1.60.  Absolutely nuts, and a really good way to get stuff you need or like (or don't need). :)  We also browsed through the shop of a lady Grandma knows...lots of beautiful Alaska-themed carvings and figurines.  We'll be going back to get one later on...and, of course, our Nome hatpins.  Then Grandma and Agnes went back to the apartment, while Matthew and I strolled around a bit more.  We went into the Nome Visitor Center, where a nice lady at the desk gave us "I Love Nome" pins and was helpful, friendly, and chatty.  We talked with her for a little bit about what we were doing in Nome, found some information about Nome and its hot spots (like shops and restaurants), looked at the displays (there was a stuffed muskox!), and looked at the Bering Sea from some rocks.  After that, we went back to the apartment and relaxed a bit.

At 1:30, we headed out again for lunch.  We ate at the Bering Sea Restaurant (originally Fat Freddy's), which serves sushi, American food, and seafood.  None of us like sushi (nor is it good for you!), so I had the Hawaiian Burger, a beef patty with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, pineapple chunks, and ham.  It was like Hawaiian pizza; very yummy.  As the name suggests, it is right by the waterfront, so Matthew and I walked down and touched it.  It's very cold water, but I loved how, as we ate lunch and stood on the rocks, the waves curled over and crashed into shore, leaving white froth behind.  Many waves were big enough to surf...I knew I should have brought my (well, actually my dad's, but I "pond surf" with it) surfboard, but nobody would let me! :)  We also went to the National Park Service building in Nome, and I got my National Parks Passport stamped.  They had a beautiful display of Eskimo dolls!  

After that outing, we went back to the apartment and did some more laundry.  Then a friend of Grandma's and Agnes's came over, and we visited with her for a little while.  After visiting, Agnes and Grandma rested while I chilled (wrote some in my journal, read a little).  When Grandma and Agnes woke up, we finished laundry and played two games of Skip-Bo (I lost the first time; won the second).  Now I am going up to shower and eat supper, then go to bed.  We have church tomorrow, and at 2 PM, we head out to Salmon Lake Bible Camp, so I WILL NOT be blogging tomorrow.  Check back next Friday evening to see how the first week goes.  Please keep all of us in your prayers...we want to be lights to these teenagers who need Christ so much.  Thanks, everyone, and I'm sorry I can't post any pictures (it doesn't seem to want to).  Either way, thanks so much for the support, prayers, and reading of my blog.  Have a great week, and good-bye from Nome!

~Anna~